On Lost Friends, Hannah Joy, Harry Day and Tim Fitz bring back their knack for haunting hooks, lyrical poignancy and irresistible indie rock appeal that critics praised in their self-titled first EP, released in March 2016.

Lost Friends, Middle Kids’ forthcoming debut on Domino, is the kind of album that sucker-punches you in the gut, revealing its nuances only after repeated listens. Its 12 songs veer from brittle blasts of indie rock, to elegiac piano ballads, to pop anthems destined to ignite stadium singalongs. The songs’ edges have been kept jagged, the production clean, the band keen to let stray imperfections imbue warmth and a human touch.

As the lyricist, Hannah Joy is unflinching in her ruminations, which often reflect not only the world’s turbulent state of affairs, but also the optimism and joy that...